What Price Happiness?

We're getting dangerously ahead of ourselves at the moment in Xpresso: August and September are ready and we are currently writing the material for the 'Big One' in October, when we have a longer presentation for the 'Kirbe' village festival.

Last year was the Steampunk 'Baronin Isabella von Katzenberg', featuring Superheroes, villains, ridiculously large props, a silent movie; and of course a plot to take over the world. We had a very similar piece the year before that, with 'The Fiendish experiment of Professor Ohnelieb'. Both pieces were well received, but both were heavy on props and commitment from the team. And as we've done the same thing for two years now, it's time for something new.

This year we are going to be lighter on props because we are hoping to tour the piece locally and you can't carry a large, heavy gun on the tram -even a patently fake one- and to give people variety and reduce the time commitment for them, we're designing a show with a series of sketches rather than one long plot.

So far the general theme has three points (as there will be three short preaching sessions): Part one highlights the contract of our current society, based on fear & materialism. Part two makes the point that it doesn't have to be like this: there is a way out, if you want it. Finally we look at the cost of our freedom -the cross- in a more serious way.

'Baronin Isabella' was criticised for not having a clear message, so we are going for a very different delivery. 'What price Happiness?' will be brash & punchy, more 'Saturday Night Live' than 'Shakespeare'. We are even planning two different presentations over the two nights: Saturday will be a youth presentation: hard, unsubtle, and hopefully shocking for the people watching. The second will be a 'family version': almost the same, but with milder versions of each piece.

We are aiming to be on the edge with this, which is dangerous, of course: We could possibly go too far, make something too violent or too shocking. I don't think that happened -yet, but your prayers would be appreciated.